The Deliverance And Restoration Of Israel, Part 1

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1. We now read from Part 2: The Book of Comfort (the latter half of Isaiah). The first part was all about judgment, we now get to read about victory and renewal.

   One of my favorite Rich Mullins songs, I See You, repeats the phrase, “Everywhere I go I see You” many times, too many for some, but when you add photos of people from all walks of life, of mountains and lakes and trees, of birds and animals, of storms, lightning and rain, I submit you cannot sing the phrase too many times. There’s a dramatic break in the version I recall where the music comes to a halt, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8) honors God through it all.  Everywhere I go I see you Lord, everywhere!

   “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning?” (40:21) and repeated again in v28. Quoted often, perhaps this section was the inspiration for “Everlasting God” by Brenton Brown (recorded by Lincoln Brewster). Here’s a link.

   The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

   Isaiah 41 includes some sarcastic words for those who rely on idols, “Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen…do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear. But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless…”(41:22-24). Further, in 42:17, “But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.” Lord, call out our idols of this day, those things we have elevated to gods that we worship, unbeknownst to our conscious minds. Call us out Lord!

   Quoted in Matthew, Isaiah declares, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations” (42:1). Many encouraging words for the blind and deaf, though we have the faculties of seeing and hearing, we simply don’t understand, but God will change this, he will bring about understanding to those who acknowledge him as Lord, “I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior” (43:11). “Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” (43:13). Isaiah foretells of something that is too rich for many too understand, “See, I am doing a new thing!” (43:19) declares the Lord, making a new way,

   I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Isaiah 43:25

   The Lord is everywhere, he gives us strength and it is he who forgives our sins. He leads those who would follow. Lord, may we renew our pledge to follow you today, filled with assurance that you are our One True Lord.

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